VANCOUVER — A solid gold eagle sculpture encrusted with 763 diamonds and housing a world-renowned emerald was stolen in a violent robbery in suburban Vancouver.
Acting Sgt. Sarah Swallow of the Delta Police Department says the robbery happened on a street in the community of Ladner at about 10 p.m. Sunday.
The Maltese Eagle, at about 30 centimetres and weighing more than eight kilograms, is touted by its owner as the world's largest such sculpture with a value of about $5 million.
The eagle's owner, Ron Shore, didn't want to release specific details about what happened but says the robbery was extremely traumatic and left him injured.
The eagle had been on display for four days at Art Vancouver, an event showcasing the work of dozens of artists from around the world.
Shore says he had the eagle made in an effort to raise money for breast cancer research after his sister-in-law gave birth and then died two days later from the disease.
